Hiruzen Sarutobi, We're Getting a Divorce!

As news of victories from the front lines continued to pour in, Danzo's mood improved with each passing day.

When the latest report regarding Minato repelling the Hidden Cloud reinforcements reached Danzo, he looked at the messenger with an expressionless face, his hands gripping the document before he slowly lowered it onto the desk.

"Tell Hiruzen to come see me."

Ever since the war began, whenever a victory report arrived, Danzo would always have someone notify Hiruzen Sarutobi to come to his office so he could personally hand the report to his old friend.

Danzo wanted to prove to Hiruzen Sarutobi that he, as Hokage, was far more capable than his old friend had ever been.

These repeated victories were the best proof.

Ten minutes later, an Anbu ninja appeared before the desk, bowing his head respectfully. "Lord Hokage, Elder Danzo says he is already aware of the news from the front lines and does not need to come over."

Danzo frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Tell him to come, or I shall go find him myself."

"Yes!"

As the words fell, the Anbu ninja retreated from the office.

About twenty minutes later, the office door opened, and the familiar figure Danzo had been expecting appeared in his line of sight.

Danzo signaled for all the Anbu to withdraw, leaving only himself and Hiruzen Sarutobi in the office.

"Hiruzen, this is the latest situation report from the front. Take a good look." Danzo placed the report on the table and pushed it forward.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he looked at the report before him, observing the smugness hidden beneath Danzo's calm expression, and felt as though he were being flaunted at once again.

When the first victory report arrived, he had been summoned by Danzo and, thinking it was truly to analyze the war situation, had not thought much of it.

But after several times, Hiruzen Sarutobi realized the truth: Danzo's purpose in summoning him was not to analyze the war or worry about the front lines at all.

This guy just wanted to show off that he, as Hokage, was leading Konoha to victory.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not pick up the report on the table, but instead looked directly at Danzo.

"I have already learned of the situation at the front from Root. In the future, don't bother me with such trivial matters."

"Trivial? Do you even know what you're saying, Hiruzen? This is a critical battle concerning the interests of the village." Danzo found his excuse, slammed his hand on the table, and stood up.

"Danzo, your attitude disappoints me. You used to be diligent and conscientious for the village, never daring to slack off. How have you become like this?"

Danzo pointed a finger at Hiruzen Sarutobi, putting on a look of heartbreak and righteous indignation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was so angered by Danzo's shamelessness that he nearly lost his breath. He glared, eyes wide, and retorted furiously, "Did you call me here to analyze the war? Don't think I don't know the darkness in your heart!"

"Darkness?" Danzo wore an expression of surprise. "Hiruzen, you have misunderstood me. I call you here only because I am worried about the front lines and want to consult with someone."

"You wouldn't let personal conflicts cloud your judgment of public affairs, would you?"

"You!" Faced with the accusation, Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled with rage.

Danzo revealed a victor's smile, walked around the desk to stand before Hiruzen Sarutobi, and picked up the report to hand it to his old friend. "Fine, take a good look at this report and see if there are any issues."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, took the report, and began to read it carefully.

A few minutes later, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at Danzo. "From here on, we just need to hold the line and keep intercepting the Hidden Cloud reinforcements."

"The Fourth Raikage ascended to his position in haste. To maintain his prestige, he cannot abandon the Hidden Cloud ninjas in the encirclement. Even if he knows our plan, he has no choice but to attack aggressively."

Danzo laughed triumphantly. "The Fourth Raikage is still too young. If he chooses to engage us in a head-on battle, he will be the only one who loses."

"Perhaps we could try to contact the Hidden Stone and have them send troops to join us in a pincer attack on the Hidden Cloud," Hiruzen Sarutobi suggested proactively.

Danzo waved his hand, rejecting the idea outright. "No, this fat piece of meat that is the Hidden Cloud—we, Konoha, will take it all."

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to say more but held back. He was very worried that other ninja villages would not sit idly by and watch Konoha recover its strength at the expense of the Hidden Cloud, and that they would send troops to help once the Hidden Cloud could no longer hold on.

But looking at the now-confident Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew his suggestion would not be adopted.

"Since that is the case, we could increase our troop numbers and strive for a quick victory. The Uchiha are quite vocal about not being able to participate in this war; perhaps we could mobilize some Uchiha ninjas from the Police Force," Hiruzen Sarutobi suggested again.

"The Uchiha?" Danzo's brow furrowed. "After this victory, I will resolve their issues."

"What are you planning to do?" Hiruzen Sarutobi became instantly vigilant.

Danzo sneered, "Make these ambitious fellows realize the reality of their situation!"

"Don't be impulsive. The Uchiha are also members of the village. If we fight among ourselves, it will only benefit the other ninja villages," Hiruzen Sarutobi urged earnestly.

"Enough!" Danzo raised his voice. "I have my own judgment regarding the Uchiha."

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Hiruzen Sarutobi was left speechless.

That phrase again. Hiruzen Sarutobi had lost count of how many times he had heard it from Danzo's mouth.

Not wanting to let Danzo continue his gloating, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to ignore him, turned around, and walked quickly out of the office.

Watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's back disappear, Danzo's lips curled upward.

Hiruzen, just watch closely! Watch how I lead Konoha to become the hegemon of the ninja world!

Danzo laughed, feeling completely at ease. With his hands behind his back, he paced back to his seat, sat down slowly, leaned back comfortably, and rested his hands on the armrests.

This was the life he wanted. Once the war ended, he would use the momentum of this great victory to resolve the Uchiha problem and then bring Shiraishi under his control.

He would lead Konoha to a new level and walk toward a bright future.

Thinking of this, Danzo closed his eyes, the smile on his face growing even more radiant, his aged features crinkling like a withered chrysanthemum.

Just then, the office door opened once more. Hearing the commotion, Danzo opened his eyes to look ahead, his body suddenly stiffening.

A person he least wanted to see walked briskly into the office.

Biwako Sarutobi, the wife of Hiruzen Sarutobi—the existence that had given him the most headaches and the one he was least willing to face since his transmigration.

"Why have you come?" Danzo squeezed out a smile, putting on a look of concern.

Biwako's appearance was naturally inclined toward the stern; as she glared at Danzo, it only added to her air of authority.

"Why do you think I'm here? Ever since you came home for dinner last time, you haven't stepped foot in the house for a single day."

"The situation between the village and the Hidden Cloud has been intense lately. I truly haven't been able to spare a moment, so I've had to stay here for the time being," Danzo hurriedly explained.

"Intense? Do you think I don't know the situation on the front lines?" Biwako grew even angrier; she could sense that the husband before her simply didn't want to go home or see her.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, if you don't want to see me, you can just say so! I, Biwako, am not some weakling who relies on others. If you don't want to come home, then don't ever come back."

"You can just stay here, guard your position as Hokage, and spend your whole life doing it!"

"Let's get a divorce!"

Having said that, Biwako didn't even glance at Danzo again, turning around and leaving directly.

Danzo stood frozen in place, staring blankly at her retreating back, the word "divorce" echoing in his mind.